Design & Applied Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their design & applied arts programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 191 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for design & applied arts students pursuing a degree.
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No school ranked higher than San Jose State University this year for design & applied arts. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 210 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the top schools for design & applied arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 36 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $63,449. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans.
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Chapman University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 35 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $46,519. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #4. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 110 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $64,846. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $18,262 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong design & applied arts program will find one at California State University Fullerton, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 50 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,471. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Davis ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 249 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $32,816 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles came in at #7 for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 58 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $57,615 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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San Francisco State University placed #8 among the best design & applied arts schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 198 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $34,845. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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California State University Long Beach came in at #9 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 99 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $37,395 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,215.
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Point Loma Nazarene University earned the #10 position for design & applied arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $54,116 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,542.
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University Of California San Diego ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best design & applied arts schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $60,797 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,787.
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Washington State University placed #12 among the best design & applied arts schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. Washington State University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 55 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $44,823 in their early career. Washington State University graduates carry a median of $22,802 in student loans.
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Western Washington University earned the #13 position for design & applied arts this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. Western Washington University graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $31,078 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento earned the #14 position for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 81 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $32,240. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
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Concordia University Irvine came in at #15 for design & applied arts this year. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent data year. Design & Applied Arts graduates of Concordia University Irvine earn a median of $58,590 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,085 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #16 for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Cruz. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. About 147 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $40,920 in their early career. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $18,559 in student loans.
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Seattle University landed the #17 spot for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 design & applied arts degrees were awarded at Seattle University in the most recent year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $63,214 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,792.
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Oregon State University earned the #18 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 114 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Oregon State University earn around $35,614 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,419.
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California State University Monterey Bay came in at #19 for design & applied arts this year. California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Seaside. About 59% of students finish within six years. California State University Monterey Bay awarded about 42 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the design & applied arts program make about $30,378 in their early career. California State University Monterey Bay graduates carry a median of $14,827 in student loans.
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Seattle Pacific University landed the #20 spot for design & applied arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Seattle Pacific University awarded about 26 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Seattle Pacific University earn around $39,248 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Portland State University placed #21 among the best design & applied arts schools. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Portland State University graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 68 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Portland State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $35,304. Portland State University graduates carry a median of $26,995 in student loans.
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University Of San Francisco earned the #22 position for design & applied arts this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 23 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from University Of San Francisco earn around $32,070 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
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Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #23 position for design & applied arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 72 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, design & applied arts degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692.
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George Fox University came in at #24 for design & applied arts this year. George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Newberg. George Fox University graduates 72% of students within six years. George Fox University awarded about 25 design & applied arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from George Fox University earn around $52,898 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,324.
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Azusa Pacific University earned the #25 position for design & applied arts this year. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 12 design & applied arts students who graduated with this degree at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their design & applied arts degree from Azusa Pacific University earn around $58,302 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,709 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Design & Applied Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for design & applied arts this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 191 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
